madcat mini music festival

Madcat Live music started putting on gigs in Hereford 30 years ago, starting at the Black Lion on Bridge street, then the old Harp (now the Herdsman) before a five year residency at the Jailhouse nightclub with two nights of live bands every week. Since then Leo has worked in the festival and live music scene, most notably at Glastonbury Festival where he is the venue manager for the 'Rocket Lounge' a late night stage in the south east corner.

To celebrate this anniversary, Madcat is producing a Mini Festival of grass roots live music with a great opportunity to have a get together in the lush Herefordshire countryside only 2 miles from the city of Hereford.

Friday 8pm - 2am (tickets for Friday night are just £25)
Sounds from Glasto's Rocket Lounge
This is quintessential rock and roll fare from the Rocket Lounge, curated by Gaz Mayall who hosts Gaz's Rockin' Blues (which is London's longest running one-nighter since 3rd of July 1980), and the Rocket Lounge, the best late night live music venue in the southeast corner of Glastonbury Festival.
on the bill are
The Forty Fours: Up and coming rock 'n’ roll hipsters from London. These three young sharp-dressed men are building up a loyal following built on strong live performances that have already landed them shows at legendary London venues such as the Dublin Castle and the 100 Club.
https://thefortyfours.co.uk/
Sister Suzie: Fabulous rock ‘n’ roll & soulful blues from Hastings. Sister Suzie has opened the show at the rocket lounge for many years. Suzie was also picked up by Craig Charles who featured her in his live Glastonbury show in 2024.
https://www.facebook.com/123ganradge
Black Kat Boppers: Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends Paul Simonon (the Clash and Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) favourites, BKB play hot-boppin, groovin’ rocking roots music, Guitar, double bass, stand-up drums, Black Kat Boppers are raw and raucous and their rebel yell appeals to all.
https://blackkatboppers.com/
US: High energy 60’s garage style rock band that are big in Japan, as well as their home country, Finland. To get a taste of where US are coming from grab a listen of their recent 2 ½ minute single Man Ray here https://youtu.be/jKyiEY9j7Hc?si=CVJNB_WICcLJ0Ty0.
https://www.facebook.com/usbandofficial/

SATURDAY 23rd 11am – 2am
Saturday features a more eclectic line-up headlined by The Alabama 3 in acoustic mode. A mix of local favourites - Los Squideros, The Breaks and the Tyler Massey Quartet – will be complemented by Paddy Steer, Dakka Skanks, Pronghorn and other acts from further afield.
Three Great local bands to get things moving
Venus Fly Kings: play Alternative indi folk rock
Noisy Daughters: Original Punk & garage duo, who often played at Madcat @the Jailhouse in the turn of the millennium!
Out To Lunch: British Blues Rock at its finest! Bringing raw, high-energy blues & rock ‘n’ roll for many years. Loud, live & legendary.
https://www.facebook.com/OutToLunchHQ
The afternoon.
Peccadilloes: Gypsy swing and Jazz Quartet with great tunes and bags of style (Glasto’s Deluxe Diner Restaurant Band ’24 & ‘25)
Tyler Massey Quartet: Americana-tinged Indi originals from Malvern way. Tyler started life in Baltimore, Maryland and has made a life of music and song writing here in the UK.
Find out more at https://tylermassey.com/
Dakka Skanks: have toured widely both in the UK and around the continent both as headliners and supporting the likes of Madness and the Dub Pistols. This year will see them visit the US for the first time where they will no doubt go down a storm. To help get you in the mood, here they are in a more mellow garden style playing True Rebel Style. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ocUGVO4vNc
https://www.dakkaskanks.com/
Paddy Steer: Space Techno one man band. “Paddy Steer has been beamed onto this planet to make you party and grin like a maniac” and “sounds like a Swiss cuckoo clock made of egg boxes and horsehair, glued together by an African Moog player in a Vietnamese iron monger’s shop”
for a taster try LOUFOQUE here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tdtn-f7hUA
The Breaks: UK Hiphop, Ska, Jazz fusion collective. A great ensemble with a big line-up, STAND FIRM – UNITE – DANCE is their mantra.. check Border Soil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WCXXoea5pQ&t=42s from the album These are the Breaks.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082561999743
Pronghorn: Dorset’s Pronghorn are festival veterans and the undisputed ‘Kings of Cowpunk’, mashing up punk with country and rockabilly. Here they are at the Rocket lounge last year.. https://youtu.be/og_q3jGhTBs
https://pronghorn.co.uk/home
Alabama 3 acoustic: comprising of Larry Love, Rock Freebase, Nick Reynolds and Zoe Devlin Love. With Larry Love’s whisky-soaked vocals and Devlin Love’s soulful chorus ride a potent mix of growling blues guitar and bad ass harmonica provided by Rock Freebase and Nick Reynolds respectively.
Best known for the hit ‘Woke Up This Morning’, which became the opening credits music of the American crime drama ‘The Sopranos’ Madcat Live will be an intimate setting for A3 acoustic..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SF_Bkw_GoQ
https://alabama3.co.uk/
Los Squideros: Tequilla fuelled Banditos & the best Mexican styled band to come out of Hereford for a Millenium.
Saturday acoustic: 12 – 4pm
Bevan, Herb Knight + more TBC

Sunday: 10am – 3pm
Roots Reggae DJ Vinyl sets Plus live music from
Daddy Spliff (Last Tree Squad, Dubmerge)
Mr Ben (Hereford)
Natty Red Locks (world Bizarre)
The Gabbidon Band: Featuring Basil Gabbidon of Steel Pulse fame, this is rootsy reggae for a chilled Sunday session. Birmingham
Sunday Acoustic: with El Squid